Genetk44 said:
I ran across this video last night...its iraqi bad guys fireing a mortar....I'm just wondering if anybody can explain the cause of the explosion at the end...I'm pretty sure the previous round had left the tube.....so, defective round? or some type of counter-battery fire???
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_GcR-8QKps
Cheers
Gene
Hello to all fellow members and guests!
This is what happens when ammo is left out to the elements, stored or buried (often loose with no proper encasement) without proper preservation. In Iraq ammo is everywhere, crudly stored in cashes along with everthing else required for the dirty work.
Ammo can be North Korean, PRC, Russian, Iranian or other Com-Bloc sponsor. In my opinion these natures of ammo are not Q1 by western standard, and the level of accuracy in assembly must be questioned. Age, etc are also factors. Poor training too may also be factored in.
It is not known the condition of the tube itself, possible obstruction wear, or deterioration on the inside can also have issues.
There is more to inspecting a tube than looking down the bore. Normally a tube is inspected after so many EFCs, scoring and the actual measurement at various lengths from the muzzle to the base to determine its service life left. Normally done by EME elements on annual TIs, and filled out in a log book, which accompanies the mortar. Its obvious the insurgents have no maintenance programme, so its hit and miss.
On watching this clip frame by frame, it looks like the initiation of the premature 'event' is at or near the base of the tube.
Whatever happened, there is one less insurgent out there, amd he got his just reward.
Happy days,
OWDU